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Life story

" Robert Harrison Sasser, Jr., 92, of Culpeper, Virginia passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 26, 2024 with his two children by his side.

Robert Harrison Sasser, Jr. (“Bob”) was born on October 25, 1932, in Reidsville, North Carolina, Rockingham County to the late Robert Harrison Sasser and Cora Earl Smith Sasser. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife and the mother of his children, Ann Ipock Sasser, his second wife, Dorothy Dameron Sasser, his sisters, Dorothy Warwick and Betsy Davis, and his brothers, Douglas Sasser and David Sasser.

Bob grew up in New Bern, North Carolina and graduated from New Bern High School in 1950. He attended Wake Forest University and graduated in 1954 with a BS degree in premed science. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity where he served as treasurer. While a student at Wake Forest, he worked in the Fraternity dining hall waiting on tables in exchange for free dining privileges. In addition, he worked as a short order cook for a local Wake Forest restaurant, had a laundry dry cleaning route, and worked other various jobs. Bob never mentioned it, but he worked and paid for his education entirely on his own.

After graduating from Wake Forest, Bob joined the Navy and went to the Naval OCS in Newport, Rhode Island. On May 1,1955, he was commissioned as an Ensign and assigned to an airborne early warning squadron, DW 15, at Patuxent River, Maryland. The squadron deployed for six months at a time to Argenta, Newfoundland in Canada. Bob acted as the CIC officer, flying missions between the Azores and Argenta.

During his time of active duty in the Navy, Bob served on the Court Martial Board. After four years of active duty, he continued his service in the Naval Reserve for an additional six years, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

In 1958, Bob began working as a sales trainee for Union Camp Corporation in Franklin, Virginia. He and his family remained in Franklin for the next 35 years, only leaving for a few years to live in Chicago in the early 1960’s. While working for Union Camp, he held several positions, ultimately serving as the Director of Sales, and finally retiring as the Director of International Development, both in the Fine Paper Division.

While in Franklin, Bob was active in the community and civic affairs. He was a member of High Street United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir, and worked with the church Youth and Stewardship programs. He was Chairman of the United Way fundraising campaign, President of the Franklin Rotary Club, President of the Cypress Cove Country Club, and a Paul Harris fellow. He also served as a member of the local school board and was a member of various city committees, including planning and zoning.

After the death of his first wife, Ann, in 1989, he married long-time family friend, Dorothy Dameron. After retiring from Union Camp in 1991, he and Dorothy moved to The Village of Golf in Boynton Beach, Florida. Bob was an avid golfer and later an enthusiastic croquet player, holding memberships in the Country Club of Florida, Ocean Club of Florida, National Croquet Association in Palm Beach, The 200 Club, Southern Seniors Golf Association, and American Seniors Golf Association. During much of his 15 years in Florida, he volunteered at the Boynton Beach Soup Kitchen.

In 1992, Bob and Dorothy purchased a summer home at Champion Hills in Hendersonville, North Carolina where he was a member of the Champion Hills Club and the Etowah Valley Croquet Club.

After Dorothy passed away in 2005, Bob moved to Henderson, North Carolina where he was a member of the Henderson Rotary Club and the Henderson Country Club. In Henderson, Bob met and married Catherine Church. Shortly thereafter they moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina. While in Pinehurst, Bob continued golfing and croquet and held memberships in the Pinehurst Country Club and Pinehurst Croquet Club. He also was a member of the Golf Capital Chorus. Bob volunteered for the Moore County Buddies Program and the Moore County Coalition, and he also served as the chairman of the Moore County Retired Seniors Volunteer Association.

Bob is survived by his wife, Catherine Church; son, Robert Harrison Sasser, III (Andrea); daughter, Elizabeth Sasser Bouquet (Bob); five grandchildren, Harrison Sasser (Katie), Emily Sasser, Patrick Sasser, Tim Bouquet (Veronica), Marie Bouquet Ayers (Mason), six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and stepchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Becky Sasser Hedrick (Frank) and his sister-in-law, Martha Kay Sasser.

A family graveside service in New Bern will be held at a later date. The family suggests that any memorial donations be made to the Wake Forest Fund for Student Aid or a charity of your choice. "